If you’ve ever been scrolling through Amazon looking for something to watch, you’ve probably come across both “Prime Video” and “Instant Video.” It’s easy to get them mixed up, and you might be wondering if they’re two separate services or just different names for the same thing. The short answer is that they are deeply connected, but the name you see tells you a lot about how you’re accessing your entertainment.
Let’s clear up the confusion. Amazon Instant Video was the original name for Amazon’s digital video store. Think of it as a giant online rental shop where you could buy or rent individual movies and TV shows. Amazon Prime Video, on the other hand, is the all-you-can-watch buffet included with an Amazon Prime membership.
How Prime Video and Instant Video Work Together
Today, you won’t often see the standalone name “Amazon Instant Video.” Instead, its functionality has been absorbed into the main Prime Video app and website. When you open Prime Video, you’re actually looking at a combined library. This includes the vast selection of movies and shows included with your Prime subscription, as well as additional titles available to rent or buy. These rentable or purchasable titles are the modern version of what was once called Instant Video.
What You Get with Your Prime Membership
With an Amazon Prime subscription, you get immediate access to the Prime Video catalog at no extra cost. This includes thousands of popular movies, binge-worthy TV series, and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Boys. This is the core benefit of Prime Video. You can stream as much as you want from this specific library without ever paying a rental fee.
When You Might Need to Pay Extra
Even as a Prime member, you’ll sometimes find a movie or new TV season that isn’t included in the free-to-stream library. These titles will have a small price tag for renting or buying. This is the legacy of Amazon Instant Video living on within the platform. It gives you the flexibility to access virtually any major release, even if it’s not part of the subscription service. You can think of the Prime Video app as your one-stop shop for both free subscription content and paid digital purchases.
So, while the name “Amazon Instant Video” has largely faded away, its purpose is still very much alive inside the Prime Video experience. It’s all part of the same convenient platform, offering you both a subscription service and a digital storefront.
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